City hotspot new hot topic for broadband market

摘要

City hotspot technology, a family of technologies similar to wireless LAN infrastructure (TM, 2 Jul, 2002) but providing a more extensive reach, has become the latest buzzword in wireless broadband access for fixed and mobile broadband within defined geographical limits. Vodafone in Europe and New Zealand, Korea's SK Telecom and Nextel of the US are all trialling city hotspots (see fig.). City hotspots often use TDD (time division duplex) spectrum awarded to 3G mobile licence winners, or broadband fixed wireless spectrum. This allows operators to offer the high access speeds associated with WLANs across an entire city, rather than limited to precise locations such airports or hotels, as is the case with WLANs. TDD spectrum was expected to serve as a back-up to FDD (the other spectrum awarded to 3G players) in high-usage areas for 3G. Instead, it may come into its own first in city hotspots.